Youth in Mitchell\u2019s Plain don\u2019t have positive role models and have lots of free time to do mischief. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 it added to gyms closing down and more children roaming the streets or standing on street corners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cassiem Kader and Lucien Henniker from Woodlands, who were both into powerlifting at the time, had to do something to keep fit when the local gym closed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They decided to start their own gym at 28 Flora Street in Woodlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBoth of us were competing in powerlifting at the time and our last competition was at the beginning of March 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe put our money together, bought the basic equipment and started the gym. We spoke to the youth at the competition and learners from surrounding schools and asked them to join our gym Strenght Centre in Woodlands. Our numbers grew slowly and by word of mouth we have six youngsters at our gym,\u201d says Kader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also says that since no physical training is part of the school curriculum for youth to shed their energy or joining sport clubs they opt to stand on street corners and admire merchants driving in flashy cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe youth see the merchants as success stories and aspire to one day also drive a flashy car. We want to change the perspective of the youth in the greater Mitchell\u2019s Plain by giving them the option of doing sport as a vehicle to also be successful in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen they join our gym we teach them the basics of powerlifting where they can take part to keep fit or pre-training for a competition. The three areas you compete in at competitions are bench, squat and dead lift. We don\u2019t charge a cent, all you need to join is your shorts, flat tekkies and a T-shirt. Training sessions are between one and one and a half hours and these sessions are attended by adults and learners,\u201d says Henniker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learners from schools in and around Woodlands will pop around after school and the adults in the evening for their training sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are currently preparing five participants to compete at the National Powerlifting Competition in Gordons Bay on Wednesday 23 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe categories of the competition are sub junior (13 to 17 years), junior, seniors, open, masters from one to three. We\u2019ll have competitors in sub junior, one in open and two in the masters section,\u201d says Henniker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kader emphasises that they want to grow the sport of power lifting in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCurrently soccer is the main sport being played in Mitchell\u2019s Plain and not everyone makes it as a name in soccer. We offer the youth another option to make a name by competing in powerlifting. Hopefully we will set a new trend in Mitchell\u2019s Plain with world champions coming from Mitchell\u2019s Plain in powerlifting,\u201d Kader says.<\/span> Youth in Mitchell\u2019s Plain don\u2019t have positive role models and have lots of free time to do 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